Seven Jewish Children

BBC has vetoed to broadcast a radio version of Caryl Churchill's 'Seven Jewish Children' which was a response (and fundraiser) to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza and again impartiality was their raison d'etre. A cry of echo I hear of BBC also pulling the plug for the Gaza appeal.

The play centres around dialogues between parents and custodians of seven Jewish children through the ages of Holocaust leading to the invasion of Gaza. There is a strong suggestion that after historic traumas suffered under the hands of the Nazi's they have started to wave their own 'superiority'

'Tell her we are better haters. Tell her we're the chosen people. Tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her I feel happy that it is not her' ends the play.

It is not so much a psychoanalysis of Israeli Jews as an outrage of what is happening in Gaza. Churchill never claims that this is the absolute psychological effects of WWII reflected in Gaza, she is simply drawing parallels as she sees them. Nor is it a definitive version of these parallels, there are many more. A counter argument/play could be produced.

I am not Jewish and cannot account for it on their behalf but after watching a presentation of this 10 minute piece I was shocked to hear some other Jewish friends of mine call it 'anti-semetic'. I feel that it is the 'anti-semetism' label has become red card, wave it and you're out. Surely, holding Israel accountable for what is a humanitarian wrong-doing and Zionism is anything but anti-semetic. If this is braodcasted then BBC would have the responsibility for those who can give a counter argument. And what is the BBC so afraid of? A bit of discussion? Well facilitate and chair it!